Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today flagged off wheat seed aid vehicles to support farmers in flood-affected areas of Punjab.
“The UP government stands firmly with the farmer-heroes of Punjab in this difficult time,” Yogi said, adding that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the double-engine government ensures full support to every disaster-affected citizen through relief, financial aid, and rehabilitation.
Highlighting Punjab’s historic role in achieving India’s agricultural self-sufficiency, he noted excessive rainfall has severely impacted lives and livelihoods, destroying even the seeds preserved for the next crop.
To assist, the UP Seeds Development Corporation is sending 2,500 sacks (1,000 quintals) of wheat seed to Punjab.
He recalled that during floods in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, UP promptly sent relief materials and financial assistance.
The 1,000 quintals of wheat seed belong to the ‘BB-327’ variety, also known as Karan Shivani. This is a disease-resistant, bio-fortified, and nutrient-rich variety that matures in just 155 days and is capable of yielding about 80 quintals per hectare.
He said when his government assumed office, the UP Seeds and Development Corporation was in poor condition.
Today, it generates a dividend of around Rs 148 crore and earned a net profit of Rs 37 crore in just one year, demonstrating that dedication and honest management can both generate profit and strengthen farmers’ self-reliance, he noted.
A Seed Park in Lucknow, in memory of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, is being established soon, with five more seed parks under development across UP.
He said although UP accounts for only 11 percent of the country’s cultivable land, it contributes 21 percent to India’s total food grain production proof of the hard work of UP’s farmers and the efficiency of the government’s policies.